While it's not quite on a par with the apocryphal "drummer's last
words" ("Hey guys, I wrote a song!"), a bass player's decision to step
into the spotlight can still be cause for concern. Happily, Flogging
Molly bassist Nathen Maxwell's solo album, White Rabbit, is no
disaster — in part because he doesn't attempt to mimic the Celtic
punk that's kept him in fedoras these past 13 years.

While Maxwell describes Flogging Molly frontman Dave King as "an
inspiration to work with and grow with," his own music takes its cues
from the reggae favored by all self-respecting California punks.

"My natural writing style is not the same as his, but I have
tried," says Maxwell. "You know, I did write and sing a couple songs on
Flogging Molly records. But the most natural, organic music that flows
out of me is a different sound."

White Rabbit finds Maxwell singing and playing guitar, bass
and melodica — he's a big August Pablo fan — in a
considerably more concise style than standard-issue trustafarian
meanderings.

The Southern California native, who sports a Bob Marley tattoo on
his arm, says Jamaican music was widely revered where he grew up: "The
punks listened to reggae, the gangstas were into reggae. Even the
jocks, back then, were into it."

A drummer's son, Maxwell initially set out to follow in his father's
footsteps.

"Actually, he wouldn't give me a drum set. He said, 'I need you to
have hand/foot separation before you're worthy of getting a drum set.'
So I'd basically just sit there in high school and practice with my
hands and my feet."

But not for long.

"I dropped out of high school and got kicked out of my mother's
house," recalls Maxwell. "But I was very focused on wanting to become a
musician, and my father said, 'OK, I'll let you come and live with me
and try to give you some pointers and guidelines.'"

Maxwell managed to get kicked out of his dad's house as well, but
not before the elder Maxwell introduced him to a band called the Dave
King Thing, which would soon change its name to Flogging Molly.

"I got hooked and went to see them play every Monday night," says
Maxwell, who'd switched over to bass and started a punk band called PBS
("or Political Bullshit, as we liked to call ourselves").

Maxwell became friends with King and at 17 was invited to join the
band.

It was only after the group started touring nationally that the
young bassist discovered King's celebrity past as vocalist in Motorhead
guitarist Eddie Clarke's Fastway.

"When we first started touring, the most diehard fans were Fastway
fans, who'd be bringing records in for him to sign," Maxwell recalls.
Now, he says, the group's audience has grown incredibly diverse, as has
its frontman's songwriting: "He's very poetic and very prolific with
his lyrics. One of his songs might contain twice the amount of lyrics
as one of my songs, if not more.

"He sings faster, and we play faster as well," says Maxwell of the
band he has no intention of leaving. "When you come to a Flogging Molly
show, if you can't move, dance and have fun, then, you know, you might
wanna figure something out."